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 | The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers |  |
Scene III
69
General Gains
What is thy name, young girl?
Naymoyah
Naymoyah, Sir.
General Gains
A beautiful Indian name. But say,
Art thou as good as thou art beautiful?
Naymoyah
Ask Selma, he can tell.
General Gains
Ah! who is he?
One whom Naymoyah loves?
Naymoyah
As thou hast said.
Didst ever love thy mother, father—wife?
If so, then smile not at Naymoyah's love.
General Gains
Where are thy father, mother, brothers—friends?
Naymoyah
Where poor Naymoyah soon would be, had she
Not Selma's love!
General Gains
70
Naymoyah
I have no father, mother—none but thee
And Selma! Will you let me go to him?
General Gains
What is he more than any other man?
Naymoyah
The same as is thy life-blood to thy heart,
Which cannot do with any other blood.
General Gains
His name says he is not of Indian blood.
Naymoyah
Had he been so, Naymoyah had not loved.
General Gains
But thou wilt soon forget him in this camp.
Naymoyah
Soon as the turtle dove forgets her mate,
And soars off with the Vulture to find rest.
Soon as the mother shall forget her child—
Or any other most unnatural thing
Shall come to pass—when love shall not be love—
Then will Naymoyah cease to love her love.
General Gains
Then it is better thou hadst never loved.
71
The Moon shines brightest in the darkest night.
General Gains
We think, we love, in absence, better than
We know we do, when the beloved is nigh.
Naymoyah
The more we know of that which gives us joy,
The more of joy we feel in knowing it.
And 'tis the attribute of spotless love
To cling to that which is congenial to it.
Thus have we clung together like two birds
Born on one stalk—so, if you take away
The one that helped the other on to live
You will be sure to take the life of both
(She kneels.)
General Gains
Oh! woman! woman! who shall speak thy praise?
Thou art the brightest perfection of the Heavens—
Our Sun by day—our Pillar of Fire by night—
The only Light we have on earth to lead
Our Ship of Life save in the Port of Heaven!
Rise up, Naymoyah! thou art free to go.
(Enter an Officer)
Officer
General! we have an Indian spy in camp,
72
General Gains
A Spanish exile as an Indian spy!
Well, that is strange! what is his name?
Officer
'Tis Selma, so he says
General Gains
Then bring him forth (Exit officer.)
Perhaps he is in search of that fond girl.
(Reenter Officer with Selma)
Selma
General! untimely as this visit seems,
It could not have been made in better time.
Like all the Workings of the Natural World,
It brings along with it its own reward.
General Gains
But you are called an Indian spy.
Selma
The calling does not change the being called.
General Gains
But are you not an exile from old Spain?
Selma
And hoping in such destiny to know
That kind Misfortune placed me in your power—
73
My Prophecy is now fulfilled—my cup
Of vengeance full.
General Gains
Thy cup of vengeance full!
What does he mean? I do not understand!
Selma
Misfortune, who was tutor to my youth,
Has left me wiser than most men. My fate
Had long ago been sealed in death, had it
Not been preserved by one most dear to me.
Now that my oath is registered in Heaven,
I swear to be the husband of that girl,
And take revenge for her dear father's death!
General Gains
Then it is private wrong, not public good,
That brought you here?
Selma
Though circumstance may change
The outward man, no destiny can change
The inward soul. The Rose is just as sweet—
Will give out just as many hues to Heaven—
Born in the Desert, as in Paradise
General Gains
74
Naymoyah?
Selma
She it was who saved my life—
Stabbing the thirsty blood-hound to the heart,
Who stood above me, threatening me with death!
General Gains
She did not seem the savage thou hast said.
Selma
Love that is tenderest in the peaceful hour,
Is strongest in the hour of greatest ill.
I trust that she is safe now in your bounds?
General Gains
No, she was taken captive in the fight,
But craving to return, we let her go—
Breathing your name with accents full of love.
Indeed she seemed the model of her sex.
Selma
Yes, General, we are destined to be one.
No power can separate us now on earth.
And now to consummate this hope, let me
Unfold the object of this interview.
I will direct your soldiers to the camp
Where Osceola in his fastness lurks,
75
General Gains
Then you would hook him with his own foul bait?
Selma
The Rising Sun will rise to set no more.
Come, General, do not scruple at your wish.
An armistice like this will make him fast,
And cancel all the debt of my revenge.
General Gains
The Soldiers of the camp are free to go;
But should you prove untrue—remember Heaven!
Selma
Then he is ours. Now Soldiers, follow me.
(Exeunt omnes)
| The unpublished plays of Thomas Holley Chivers | |